Tufting mechanism for looms.



No. 853,471. PATENTED MAY 14, 1907.

W. PEARSALL.

TUFTING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 23.1904.

' 5 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Z5 ,ficr/crclvt: wow 1655 66, lfi f zff f UM. i Aug) 1 Q a? Z minim No. 853.471. PATENTED MAY 14, 1907. W. PEARSALL.

TUFTING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLIGATION FILED FBB.28.1904.

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. fico e/u/ucw. l c: c7 (36 (Fill PATENTED MAY 14, 1907.

W. PEARSALL. TUFTING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS- APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23,1904.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3 No. 853,471. I PATENTED MAY 14, 1907.

W. PEARSALL.

TUFTING-MBGHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED rm. 23.1904.

I s SHEETS-SHBET 4.

' No. 853,471. PATENTED MAY 14, 1907.

W. PEARSALL. TUFTING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23,1904.

a SHEETS-SHEET '5.

v XWQIMw UNITED sTA Es PATENT oFEIoE.

WILLIAM rnassann, or wosoEsTEa, arassacnusarrs, ass'resc To. MATTHEW J. WHITTALL, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

.TUFTING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS- Specification of Letters Patent Patented May 14, 1907.

Application filed February 23, 1904. Serial No. 194,707.

To all whom it mm/y concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM PEARSALL, a subject of the King of England, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented anew and useful Tufting Mechanism for Looms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a tufting mechanism for inserting the yarns or threads which form the tufts orv piles, which constitute the wearing surface of a fabric.

The especial object of this invention is to provide a strong, simple, and eflicienttufting'mechanism which can be operated at high speed to produce a high grade of fabric.

To these ends, this invention consists of the parts and combinations of parts as hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying five sheets of drawings, Figure 1 is a front view ofsufficient parts of a loom to partly illustratethe application of this invention thereto. Fig. 2 Is a partial transverse sectional view illustrating the connections which carry the cutting knives. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the loom. Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of one of the vertically movable slides or rack-bars which carry the ends of the worsted or threads. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front view thereof. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the cutting knife and the track or way upon which the same slides. Figs. 7 to 13 inclusive are diagrammatic views illustrating the operation of the ni ers in inserting a line of tufts across t e abric. Fig. 14 is a detail view of the connections for opening and closing the nippers.

Figs. 15 to 18 are detail views illustrating the operation of the pile supporting bail or wire and Fig. 19 is a detail view of the cams and connections operating the retaining wire.

In a loom constructed according to this invention as herein illustrated, the yarns or threads which are to form the tufts or piles constituting the wearing surface of a fabric may be drawn from the ordinar creels or frames, the ends of these yarns being mounted in a rack which comprises a series of vertically movable slides or rackbars. The slides or rack-bars are shifted or moved up and down by selecting devices to bring the properly colored threads in osition to form one of thelines of tufts or pi es of the fabric. Any desired selecting devices may be used for shifting the vertically movable slides. (Io-operating with the rack are nippers or swinging-jaws' which engage the projecting ends of the yarns when the same are brou ht to proper position. The nippers, after't e have gras ed the yarn ends, are moved bac far" enoug to draw out the length of yarn required' for a tuft or pile of the fabric. The yarn is then cut off by the transverse passage of a cutting knife. Thenippers then continue their travel and swing downwardly to carry their yarn down into the chain which forms the foundation or backing of the fabric. While the yarn is thus held down into place by the nippers, weft threads areinserted in the shed in the weft-threads. The ni pers are then released, and the weft threa s are beaten up by the lay. The reed of the lay is v formed by a number of thin plates or blade-s which enter the slots of a comb or metal plate. This comb is provided with an inclined forward edge and with a barb-shaped projection or detent, and as the weft threads snap down behind this detent, the detent will form a shoulder which will raise the free ends of the tufts or piles. The nippers then swing back and also tend to comb up or straighten the piles. To revent the overhanging edges of the pile om being drawn down at the next operation of the nippers, I also provide a retaining bailor wire which engages behind the successively formed piles and which is intermittently raised and swung back and forth to engage the piles as formed. Referrin to the accompanying drawings for a detaif description of an ap aratus embodying this invention, as s own most clearly in Fi 3-, T designates the yarns or threads whic are drawn from any suitable source of sup ly, and are clamped near their ends in a rac comprising a number of indeendent, vertically movable slides or rackiiars B which together constitute the rack for presenting the threads in fproper position to be engaged by a series 0 =nippers N. The rack-bars B are operated by threads L from suitable selecting mechanism, and are which, when released, permits all the slides or rack-bars to return to lowest position.

The nippers which eo-operate with the rack-bars B, as shown, are mounted to swing or turn with a rock-shaft 16. Secured on the rock-shaft 16 are side-frames 17 which are connected by a cross-bar 18 and by an operating rock-shaft 21. Extending up from the cross-bar 18 are'the stationary pieces 19 of the nippers, and pivoted to each stationary -nected to a substantially vertical plate or rock-shaft 21.

. actuated rock-shaft and whiehmeshes with a rack carried by the slide 29. The Ways 26.

. into and out of arm extending down from the operating The-operating rock-shaft 21 is also provided with an inclined plate or arm which acts as a cam-plate to open the movable jaws 20.

So long as the roek-shaft 21 islocked or held from turning by-the catch mechanism illustrated in Fig. 14,. the movable jaws will be held closed by the tension of the springs 22. So soon as the catches are released, the tension of the springs'22 act to turn therock-shaft 21, causing the movable jaws 20 to fly open.

Each of the rack-bars B comprise. sidelates 10 connected by cross-pieces 11. Iounted on each of the crossieces 11 is a s ring 12-for holding one of t e threads in p ace, while permitting the end of the thread tobe advanced when required.

When the nipp'ers have drawn forward the required lengths of thread or yarn, the yarns are cut off by a knife K which is fastened in place by a spring S uporf'the carria e 23. The carriage 23 is mounted to be move back and forth upon a guideway 24 by a rope R,- and also carried by the guideway 24 is a comb or cutting plate P which co'operates with the knife K.

The connectlons for moving the knife K o erativ'e'position are most clearly illustrated in Fi s.

provided at its ends with rejections 25 which are sup 'orted by inc ned cams 26. Extending bac from the guideway 24, as shown in Fig. 2, are links 27 which are connected to arms 28 extending down from slides 29. Each of the-slides 29 is mounted on rollers 30 and is moved in one direction by a spring 31, and in the opposite direction by a gear 32 which may be mounted on a camfat the opposite sides of the loom frame which supportthe projections 25 are of such inelination that as the knife K is, drawn into proper e' rstive pesitien the cutting plate or comb will be carried'down with an inclined or diagonal movement, more easily forcing its way between the worsteds, where-' 1 and 2. Asshown in these figures, t 1e guideway 24. is-

by it is accurately brought to' osition to sever the yarns'which are desired or the particular tuft'or pile being formed.

The body part or chain of the fabric may be woven by any of the ordinary loom constructions. For example, as shown in Fig. 3, the warp threads may be operated by heddles mounted in the heddle-frames 11, while the weft threads may be inserted in place in any ordinary way.

forms the subject matter of a separate application for patent, which I have executed on even date herewith, filed in the United States Patent Ollice Feb. 23, 1904, Serial No. 194,708.

The completed fabric passes over the comb 0 having a slotted forward edge, and having a rearwardly inclined bar or projection. The

shape of this comb is of particular impor tanee in a mechanism constructed according In practice, I have useda special needle loom construction which to this invention, because as the weft threads are successively beaten up over the bar or projection of this comb, this projection or bar will serve to raise or lift the free end of the pile up to. proper position. The weft threads are beaten up by the lay E having a reed formed by narrow plates or sheet metal pieces 34. (Also co-operating with the comb O, I provides pile supporting bail or wire W, which is intermittentl raised and moved back and then forwar to hold up the sue I cessive ly formed lines of piles.

The sequence of operation. of the riippers.

in carrying a pile into proper position, is most clearly illustrated 1n igs. 7 to 13 inclusive.

I As shown in Fig. 7, the nippers N are shown as just engaging the properly colored yarns which have been brought up to selected position. Theni pers then draw out the required length 0 yarn, as shown in Fig. 8, and the knife K is moved back and downwardly to operative position to sever or cut off the selected yarns. The knife K is then again raised leaving the required lengths'of yarn in the grippers, as shown in Figs. 3 and 9. The

grippers then continue their motion and carry the tuft tor length of yarn required down onto the comb C, as illustrated in Fig; 10. One or more weft threads f are then laid in position, for example, by a needle M as shown in Fig. 11. The'nippers N are then released and the fabric is beaten up so that as the weft thread'sf' are carried up' over the projection 33 of the comb, this projection will serve to raise the ile so that. it will stand up from the face of, tlie fabric. As the nippers' are returned to position asshown in Fig. 13, they closing the nippers at roper times are most clearly illustrated in 1g. 14. .As shown in this figure, an operating arm 34is secured on position.

in Fig. 17, the bail or retaining wire W is the rock-shaft 21, and connected with the operating arm 34 is a locking latch 35 which will engage a tooth or stop 36 on the rockshaft 16. (Jo-operating with the arm 34 is a rocker 46 which is moved in one direction by a spring 37, and in the opposite direction by a link 38 pivotally connected to a cam operated lever 39. Also extending from the-lever 39 is a releasing pin or link 40. By means of this constructlon, when the nippers N, extend up to the position shown in Fig. 14, the rocker 46 by engagement with the arm 34 will close said nippers N and the catch 35 will hold saidnippers in their closed position.

When the nippers N are in inverted position, the latch 35 will be brought into position to be'engaged by the releasing pin 40, which will release said latch 35 and permit the nippers N.to fly open as illustrated in Fig. 12.

The operation of the pile supporting bail or wire W is most clearly illustrated in Figs. '15 to 19. Assho'wn in Fig. 15, the bail W will engage behind a freshly formed pile, and as shown in Fig. 16,,it will hold said pile out of the way while a fresh tuft is brought into After a tuft is beaten up as shown lifted and swung back as shown by dotted lines.-

The connections for imparting the proper motions to the bail or retaining wire W are mostclearly illustrated in Fig. 19. As

shown in this figure, the retaining bail 'or wire W is mounted in arms 41. Extending down from the arms 41 are links 42 which are connected to links 43 which are operated by a cam:44. At their ends the arms 41 are connected to bell-crank levers 45 which are connected by links 46 to arms 47 operated by a cam 48. The cam 44 serves to lift the retaining wire-or loop W to the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 17, while the cam 48 gives the retaining Wire its forward and backward motion. i

I am aware that numerous changes may be made in the construction of tufting mechanisms for looms without departing from the scope of this invention as expressed in the claims. I do not Wish, therefore, to be limited to the construction I have hereinshown and described, but

means for moving the guide laterally along the guide-frame.

2. In a tufting mechanism, for looms, the combination of a rack having the ends of yarns projecting therefrom, means for severing the projecting ends of'the yarn consisting of a guide plate with comb-teeth on the'lower edge thereof, said guide plate being mounted so that the same can be moved down and toward the face of the rack, with a knife mounted on the guide frame, and movable thereon, a cord for moving said knife, and means for inserting the cut off form the pile of a fabric.

3. In a tufting loom, the combination of a breast beam or support for completed fabric having comb teeth or slots at its rear edge for receiving the reed blades, and having an inclined rear edge and bar serving to raise the pile when the fabric is beaten up, a retaining wire, and means 'for operating the same to' engage behind successively formed tufts.

pieces of yarn to I 4. In a tufting loom, the combination of a breast-beam or support for completed fabric having comb-teeth or slots at its rear edge receiving the reed-blades of the lay, and having an inclined rear edge and bar which serve to raise the piles, a retaining wire, with two cams connected to operate the retaining I wire to engage behind successively formed tufts, and move the same forward out of the way.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set J. ELMER'HA'LL, I PHILIP W. SOUTHG-ATE.

-my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. a f

f WILLIAM PEARSALL. v

Witnesses l i 

